Wrapping machine



Aug. 28, 1,466,633

E. O. STROM WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 220 2/48 40 `3736u2r 5,70 7 O X f .foy 5?@45 r* I. k w 7F L? 54 fio WL f E 75 49 a5 fl .I ad( Le; U /320 hf/2 7?? f 6 3o 2/ "7 J8 37% /0 /a JJ 7 3 M M 2 7 2 v zw 6 n m5 6 .m 2 n 6 Q H 7 c .L w. 4, A 2. n 1 h 7 5 ,l S M 2 2 s n w 2 m ma 3 7 E w ma W f M I H mw 6 m M 1 .mw z O H N d E u d w n R 7 W i 4 /l 2 F f/T! .J x 'L rL L l j l l., 0

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERIC 0. STRON, OF HILTON, NEW JERSEY.

,WRAPPIIWG MACHINE Application led November.` 16, 1918. Serial No. 262,820.

To all whom t may concern.' amenable to low cost of production, as well Be it known that I, Emo O. S'rnoM, a as easily repaired.

citizen of ythe United States, and a resident Other objects and advantages of the invenof Hilton in the county of Essex and State tion will become apparent as the specifica- 6 of New jersey, have invented certain new tion proceeds.

and useful Improvements in Wrapping Ma- With the aforesaid objects in view, the 1nchines, of which the following is aspecivention consists of the novel combinations cation. and arrangements of parts hereinafter de- This invention relates generally to the scribed in their preferred embodiments,

l0 art of preparing certain articles of merchanpointed out in the subjoined claims, and ildise for the retail trade by placing them sepalustrated on the annexed drawings, wherein rately in protective envelopes or containers, like parts are designated by the same referand it more particularly appertains to deence characters thruout the several views.

vices for individually encasing cigars in In the said drawings,- 16 pa er wrappers er the like, Figure I is a top plan view illustrating a ne of the objects of the invention is to practical embodiment of the invention, cerproduce an improved device of the nature tam parts thereof being omitted;

set -forth that will efficiently performthe Fig. H is a side elevation of the same;

function of enclosing an article within a FigzIII is a longitudinal vertical section, wrapper by conjoint rotation thereof, the on the line IIT-III of Fig. I;

' ends of the latter meanwhile being held fast Fig. IV is an end elevatlon, looking from to effect twisted closures at the extremities the right-hand side of Fig. II; and

cf the former, Fig. V is an enlarged transverse section Another object is the production of a deof a detail. t@ vice of the type specified embodying a self- Generally described, the invention comcontained construction, with coactively movprlses a light framework enclosing a series ing partsA so balanced relatively to each other of rolls, over or around which runs an endthat. the insertion of the article and wrapper less belt or apron, set in motion by a owertherebetween, as well as the retraction of pulley attached to the shaft of one o these 30 the wrapped article therefrom, may be efrolls. rIhe series of rolls includes a pair fected without previous or concomitant maarranged to support the article to be rripulation of the said parts, that is, inde- Wrapped; a presser roll suspended therependently of all extraneous control. above and coacting therewith to wrap the 8o A further object is to provide a device of envelope around the article by rotating them the species mentioned having a continuously together; an idler roll serving to produce moving feeder kept under uniform tension a gap between the rolls that support the both by automatically acting and by manuarticle and wrapper during rotation; a

ally adjusted mechanism. tightener-roll thatl performs .the double Still another object is the provision of a function of tensioning the endless belt and device of the character described equipped changing its course so as to cause it to run with bearings and journals requiring a miniover the article and wrapper in a direction mum amount of lubrication, and yet runopposite to that of the supporting rolls ning quietly with the least possible friction. thereunder; an equalizing roll located in A still further object is to construct a dethe plane of the presser and of the idler;

45 vvice of the kind referred to which shall be andthe drive roll, above mentioned, to the light and of smallcompass, strong and durshaft of which the power-pulley is aixed. able, composed of few and simple parts, and Both the presser roll and the equalizing roll are mounted in oscillatory frames and affected by weights attached to the same.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, upon becoming conversant with the details thereof, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submitted only as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

The form of the device under consideration includes oppositely located cheekieces or frame pl-atesl and 2, that are he d together in spaced rel-ation, vby shouldered studs 3, 4 and 5, with nuts engaging the 'threaded extremities thereof, as shown in the drawings hereto annexed. Adjoining the ends of the plates 1 and 2, on the outside, are angular legs 6 and 7, disposed in pairs, by means of which the said plates may be secured to a primary support, as at A, Fig. II. The support may be in the nature of a work-bench, or the like, adapted to receive the lower halves of the frame plates.

Bearings 1() are attached to opposite sides 0f the plates 1 and 2, in proximity to the rear ends of the latter, and a shaft 11 is journ-alled therein. This shaft may be driven for instance, b a belt-pulley 12, secured to either one o its ends, as represented in Figs. I and IV. A collar 13, at the opposite end of the shaft, keepsit properl aligned in its bearings aforesaid.

Fixe ly mounted on the shaft 11, between a the plates 1 and 2, is a roll 14, which constitutes the main driver for an endless belt or apron 15, hereinafter more fully described. The latter-named element, as will be observed, appears only in Fig. III, 1t being omitted from the other figures of the drawingsto give a clearer view of the parts surrounded thereby, and consequently to avoid confusion.

Journalled directly in the frame plates 1 and 2, are three spindles 17, 18 and 19, which are maintained against axial displacement, each by a pair of opposed shieldlike retainers 20, quasi-triangular in form and 'held in place b screws, as 21. These retainers are provided with apertures 22, 23 and 24, offset relatively to Ithe said spindles, so that the latter are overlapped at one of their edges, preferably the lowermost, by the corresponding edges of 'the said apertures, as clearly seen in Fig. II. The several spindles are thereby kept in place, and further the apertures serve as oil-holes for their lubrication. Not only are the ends of the spindles reached by the lubricant in this way, but it also s reads to a pair of bushings 25, 26, revolva le thereon, which latter are shown in section in Fig. V. These bushings Lmay be of fibre, or other suitable material, and are forced into the terminals of bores 27, 28 and 29, respectivel formed in rollers 30, 31 and 32, throu which the spindles are passed. The ro ls 30 and 31 afford indirect su-pports'for the article to be wrapped, while the roll 32 is an idler. By removin either one or both of the retainers 20, t e spindles can be withdrawn and the rolls taken out, without dismantling the frame plates.

Another roll 35 is located in rear of the roll 31, in proximity to the main roll 14. The said roll 35 may be of slightly smaller diameter than the rolls 30, 31 and 32, previously referred to, and serves as a tightencr for the belt 15, also beto-re mentioned. The internal construction of the roll 35 is similar to that ofthe said rolls, and includes a spindle 3G, the ends of which are arranged to turn in bearings 37, adjustably clamped to the outer sides of the plates 1 and 2, near the upper edges thereof, for instance, h v screws 38, centered through slots 39, in extensions 40, of the bearings 37. In order to hold these bearings in alignment, the extensions 40 are preferably formed integral therewith, and guided on short studs 41, received in the slots 39, in spaced relation to the screws 38. As shown by dotted lines in Fig. II, the frame plates are formed with elongated apertures 42, to admit ofthe spindle 36 being moved bodily therein, back or forth according to the required adjustment of the belt-tightening roll. Either bearing 37 may be advanced or retracted, as needed, to enable the roll 35 to pull more or less on one side of the belt than on the other, if necessary, in order to centre the belt with relation to the other rolls in the machine.

As will be noticed, particularly with reference to Figs. II and III, the aforementioned legs 7 extend upwardly above the plates 1 and 2. as at 45, and carry a pintle 46, upon which is hingedly supported one end-of a three-sided frame 47. The open or free end of this frame is directed forward and carries a spindle 48, on which a presser roll 49 is revolvably mounted, through the medium of a pair of bushings similar to those hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. V. At the opposite or closed end 50 of the frame 47, beyond the supporting pintle or hinge thereof, may be applied a counterweight 51, or its equivalent, to halance or relieve the pressure exerted by the last-named roll in case the frame itself is not sufficiently heavy to accomplish the same purpose. The counterweight is conveniently afiixed to the closed end 5() of the frame 47 by means of a set-screw, as 52, engaging the rear one of a pair of jaws 53, de-

ma be held against axial displacement by' spl1tpins 54, the removal of which enables the frame 47 and thereto connected parts to be readily taken out.

The direction of motion of the. belt 15 running over the presser roll 49, talren 1n conjunction with the pivotal dlspositlon of the oscillatable frame 47 above the driving roll 14 tends to hold the said presser roll down in close proximity to the article to be wrapped resting upon those portions of the belt which run over the supporting rolls and 31.-

In order to predetermine the height of the presser roll 49 above the subjacent rolls 30 and 31, there is provided a pair of adjusting stops 55, which may be in the nature of plates with inclined flanges 56, underlying `the side members of the frame 47. These stops are adapted to rest at their bottom edges upon the bearing blocks 10, and are held to the frame plates 1 and 2, exterlorly thereof, by screws 57, engaging slots 58, that permlt the shifting of the stops relatively to the three-sided frame, so that it can either be raised or lowered.

Supported substantially in the vertical plane of the idler roll 32, and below the same, is an equalizing roll 61, which is revolvable through intermediate bushings, of the type before described, on a spindle 62, rotatably fitted at its opposite extremities in the lateral members of a three-sided frame 63. which is oscillatably mounted on a pintle 64, carried by the plates 1 and 2, in proximity to and in advance of the forward stud 3. The rear, free end 65 of this frame is closed in the vicinity of the stud 4, where it is arranged to swing underneath the main roll 14, and holds up a suspended weight 66, removably attached thereto, for instance, by means of a hook connection 67.

The pintle 64 is held against axial displacement by a split pin 68, the removal of which allows the pintle to be withdrawn and the three-sided frame 63 detached from the device together with the equalizing roll 61 The previously mentioned endless belt or apron 15 is made of rubber, or other suitable material, and successively passes over the several rolls herein designated by the reference numerals 30.32, 31, 35, 49, 14 and 61.

The main roll 14 is preferably covered with a facing or lining h69, of yielding material,I

The latter is open at the front end,

wrapped, and which is supported upon the rolls 30 and 32. To provide additional room for the o rators fingers, the notches 72 maybe c amfered on the outsideI of the frame plates, as indicated at 73, Fig.v II.

or convenience in using the device, a. small table is provided at the front thereof, as exemplified in Figs. I, II and III. This table may consist merely of a board secured to and partly embraced by the forward/part of the frame plates 1 and 2, adjacent to the roller 30. An extension- 77 may also be added to this table, to furnish a support for the wrappers to be placed around the articles. he operator, may rest his or .her arms on the work bench A while feeding` the articles and their Awrappers into the device. The extension 77 may be attached to the frame plates 1, 2 by means of side cleats 78, in a manner that is well understood.

As stated at the be inning of this specification, the improve machine herein described is particularly welladapted to the wrapping of cigars, and of course its operation will be better oomprehended by reciting the manner in which the machine is used for placing wrappers around this class of articles. Assuming then that a certain quantity of cigars is convenientl at hand, with a pile of wrappers on the talile extension 77, and the machine is rmly set on a Work-bench or the like, the operator will seat himself (or herself) in front of the ysaid extension.

Usually a cigar is taken hold of by one hand, and laid upon the top sheet of the wrapper pile in a direction transverse to the frames 1 and 2. Each wrapper consists, preferably of a substantially rectangular sheet of papel', of light'texture and ascptic. The cigar is placed upon the near edge of the paper, which is partly turned around it preparatively to feeding into the machine. The power-pulley having been set in motion, and the endless belt or apron thereby caused to travel continuously in the various directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. III, the partl wrapped cigar is turned over so that the ree ed of the' wrapper trails behind the cigar w ich is then pushed sidewise between the bights of the endless belt that respectively cover the adjoining surfaces of the forward supporting roll 30 and the" presser roll thereabove. The roll beingl about evenly balanced by the c0unterweight 51, bearing upon the remote end of the three-sided frame 47, it. is sensitive to thc lightest touch and rises at once, suiiiciently to let pass the partly Wrapped cigar without undue friction. The partly wrapped ci ar then slides into the gap intermediate o the parallel supporting rolls 30 and 31, where it momentarily rests with its lower sides in Contact with the traveling belt passing over these two rolls. As this occurs, the presser roll resumes its normal position at the forward end of the counterweighted frame, predetermined by the location of the stopsl, which brings the section of belt running around the presser roll to bear upon the uppermost side ot` the partly wrapped cigar, this belt section moving in an opposite direction to that Jfollowed by the belt portion carried at. the time by the underlying rolls 3() and 31. l\lea1i\vhile, the ends of the wrapper which project beyond the extremities ot the cigar are held fast by the operator, with the result. that the wrapper and cigar are rotated together by the oppositely running belt sections or ortions and the former is completely rolled) about the latter. The cigar is then entirely incased,\with the ends of the wrapper twisted at its opposite extremities. The final step in the operation is to withdraw the enwrapped cigar from its temporary resting place between the presser roll and the 4supporting rolls. This is accomplished simply by pulling back the article the same way it was introduced, that is by retracting it past the presser roll suspended at the front end of the counter-A balanced i'rame. lt is understood that in thus retraeting the cigar, the operator holds only the twisted ends of its wrapper, so that no injurious pressure is exerted at any time upon the cigar itself. The wrapped cigar having been withdrawn and deposited in some convenient place vor receptacle, the

operation is repeated with fresh wrappers and cigars in the manner just outlined. The operation is simple and sufficiently expediditious, as a trained operator using a machine of the type herein disclosed can easily wrap several thousands of cigars in the course of a days work. v

Vhile a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim,

1. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supportingrolls, a eoacting presser roll thereabove, a belt running with constant tension and Contact over all of said rolls, a driving roll for imparting continuous motion to saidbeIt, and means for yieldably suspending said presser roll so as to enable it to recede from said supporting rolls by the insertion therebetween of an article with its wrapper and the retraction of the wrapped article therefrom.

2. A devlce for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination,a pair of supporting rolls, a presser roll oscillatably suspended above the same, a 'constantly tensioned belt enveloping the said rolls, a'driving roll for said belt, the centre of oscillation of said presser roll being ofi'- set from that oit said drivin roll and assisted by the direction of motion of the belt to urge the presser roll towards the supporting rolls, and means for limiting the range of oscillation ot' the presser roll relatively to the supporting rolls to keep it at a predetermined distance therefrom. i

3 A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a set of supporting rolls, a presser roll oscillatably support-ed thereabove, a belt arranged to run continuously over the said rolls, a driving roll for said belt the centre of oscillation of said presser roll being above that of said driving roll and coacting with the direction of motion of the belt to urge the presser roll downward in proximity to said supporting rolls, and an equalizing roll below the latter engagin the belt tomaintain a constant tension tliereon when the presser roll recedes from or approaches the supporting rolls.

4. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supporting rols spaced one from the other, a coacting presser roll yieldably mounted above the space between said supporting rolls, an automatically tensioned belt running over the said rolls, a driving roll adapted to impart continuous motion to said belt, and an idler and a tightener roll for the latter disposedin oiset relation to the supporting rolls.

5. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supporting rolls with a s ace therebetween, a presser roll yielda ly mounted ab'ove said space, an automatically tensioned beltl running over the said rolls, a driving roll for continuously moving said belt, an idler roll engaging the latter below the space intervening between said supporting rolls, and a tightener roll located to one side of the last named rolls.

6. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supporting rolls spaced from each other, a presser roll ieldably mounted substantially central a ove the space between said supporting rolls, a belt arranged to run continuously over the said rolls, a driving roll for said belt disposed to one side of the above named rolls, an idler roll engaging the belt below said space, a ti htener roll located intermediate of one of t e supportin rolls and said driving roll, and an equalizlng roll beneath said 1dler roll serving to maintain a constant tension upon the belt.

7. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supporting rolls, a presser roll coacting therewith, a constantly tensioned belt running over the above mentioned rolls, a driv-v ing roll for impartin continuous mption to sa1d belt, an oscillata le frame carrying said presser roll, and means partly balancing 4said frame to relieve the pressure of the constituting a mountin for said equalizing roll, and means for re etermining the pressure to be exerted y said, frame in order 01 maintain a constant tension upon the e t.

9. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supportin rolls, a presser roll coacting therewlth, a lt arranged to run continuously over the said rolls, a driving roll for said belt, a partly balanced frame for said resser roll mounted to oscillate above said rivin roll, an vequalizing roll engaging the be t, and a pressure exerting frame oscillatably sustainingr said e ualizing roll below the driving roll to maintain a constant tension on the belt.

10. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supporting rolls, a presser roll coacting therewlth, a belt arranged to run continuously over the said rolls, Aan equalizing roll Q or descends to maintain a constant tension fulcrumed to oscillate above said driving' roll, and a stop movable relatively to said frame to predetermine the operatlve space betlween the presser roll and said supporting rol s.

12. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, oppositely located frame members, supportmg rolls revolvably mounted on spindles journalled 1n Sal, members, e Gonot-111g presser ing rolls, a belt-running roll yieldably suspended above said sup-portl over the before mentioned rolls and retaming means overlylng the ends of said spindles so that the vlatter and the supporting rolls thereon may be removed without .interfering with said belt, said presser roll, or the frame members.

A device for individualy wrapping articles, -comprising in combination, p opposltely located frame members, supporting 'rolls arranged to revolve in spaced relation between said members near the upper edges thereof, .a coacting presser roll yieldably suspended above the space intermediate of said supporting rolls, a belt running over the said rolls, and a feed table carried by the frame membersforwardly below sai-d presser roll, in substantial alignment with the supporting rolls, whereby the article to be wrapped may be slid from said. table directly upon one of the supporting rolls and enabled to raise the presser roll until lodged in the space between all of said rolls.

14. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a horizontally extended frame, a work table at the front end` thereof, supporting rolls disposed transversely of said frame adjacent to said table, a coacting presser roll suspended above said supporting rolls, a belt arranged to run continuously over the said rolls, and a driving roll for said belt located at the rear of the frame away from the work table.

15. A device for individually Wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a horizontally extended frame, spaced supporting rolls and an idler roll thereunder having their spindles journalled in said frame, a presser roll coacting with said supporting rolls, an oscillatable carrier for said presser roll fulcrumed above the frame at the rear end thereof, a belt arranged to run continuously over the said rolls, a driving roll for said belt mounted on a shaft rotatable in the frame below the fulcrum of said carrier, a tightener roll having the ends of its spindle fitted in bearings adjustably secured to the frame` intermediately of said driving roll and the before vmentioned rolls, and an equalizing roll pivoted to the frame in ad-n lll laterally adjusting said tightener roll to cenl tralize the running of the belt over all of said rolls.

17. A device for individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair -of supporting rolls, a coacting presser roll thereabove, albelt running over the before mentioned rolls, a driving. roll for said belt, a tightener roll f0r the latter, adjustable bearmgs at. the opposite ends of said tihtener roll; and means for independently a usting the ends of the tightener roll thru said bearings so es to guide the belt over the several rolls.

18. A devieefor individually wrapping articles, comprising in combination, a pair of supporting rolls, a coacting presser roll thereabove, e driving roll, a belt having its Leeeee inner side enveloping all of said rolls, and an idler roll en ging the outer side of said belt to chanee t 1e direction of motion thereof from said presser roll to said supporting rolls, the arrangement being such that the the stretch of the belt lpassing under the presser roll travels towards the driving roll while that portion of the belt running over the supporting rolls moves oppositely.

ERIC O. STROM. 

